Ukraine tennis star Elina Svitolina don announce say she and her husband, French player Gael Monfils, dey separate and their marriage dey end after five years. She announce am for Instagram post on Monday. Svitolina, wey be World No 6 and four-time Grand Slam semi-finalist, talk about the emotional weight of Russia‘s war on her country and say she need find herself again.
For di post, di 32-year-old write: “This is the most difficult thing I have ever had to share.” She add: “Everyone knows how much Ukraine means to me. What I have rarely spoken about is what the war has done to me inside.” She talk about sleepless nights, doubt, and di feeling say she dey lose herself small small.
Svitolina explain say with time she come understand say she need find her way back to herself, and she no fit do that inside their marriage. “It is the hardest truth I have ever had to face and the hardest thing I have ever had to tell the person I love,” she write. She talk about Monfils’ support: “Gaël saw it all. He never let go of my hand. We fought together for a long time, with everything we had.” But she add say some battles dey happen deep inside person, and no other person love fit win them for you.
She still praise Monfils for how he take di news. According to her, he respect wetin she need with strength and elegance wey she no go forget. She talk say Monfils love her for her greatest joys and darkest moments, and she love am with all her heart.
Their daughter Skai na four years old, and Svitolina say she must always come first. “Our marriage is ending, but our family is not. We will always be her parents, together, every step of her life,” she write. She also beg for kindness and space to heal, and she insist say nobody to blame: “There are only two people who have loved each other deeply and a story that is changing shape.”
Svitolina and Monfils marry for July 2021. Only few months ago, dem join forces reach di semi-final of di US Open mixed doubles, but dem meet Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli for di last four. More recently, Svitolina play for di Wuhun Open, but Sonay Kartal beat her for di quarter-final in three sets.
Monfils, 40, retire from tennis earlier this month. He been expected to make farewell appearances for Lyon and di Paris Masters later this month. Dem give am wildcard for this week ATP 250 tournament for Lyon, but organisers say he withdraw for personal reasons.
